The woman’s disappearance was largely ignored by police decades ago, but has become one of the hottest cold case inquiries in Australian criminal history thanks to the overwhelming popularity of the podcast investigation The Teacher’s Pet, which has been downloaded 27 million times.

Police insist Wednesday’s arrest was a result of their work before the podcast aired.

While Mrs Dawson’s body has never been found since her 1982 disappearance, police are confident in their case.

“If anyone has committed a crime in the past, do not think you can get away with it,” warned NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

Before Lynette Dawson’s 1982 disappearance

Former Newtown Jets footballer Mr Dawson married his high school sweetheart in 1970.

They settled in Sydney’s Northern Beaches and had two daughters, but in 1981 Chris began an intense affair with 16-year-old student Joanne Curtis.

In January 1982 the Dawsons went to see a marriage counsellor.

Mrs Dawson was meant to meet her mother at the Northbridge Baths the next day, but never showed up.

Within days Mr Dawson had moved his schoolgirl lover into the family home. He told police his wife left, but didn’t report her missing for six weeks.

Chris Dawson moved his schoolgirl lover into the family home within days of his wife’s disappearance. Source: 7 News

Two coroners have found that Mrs Dawson was murdered by a person known to her.

A dig in January 2000 unearthed a woman’s cardigan with cut marks, but twice the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) refused to prosecute Mr Dawson.

“It’s very hard to mount a case of a reasonable prospect of conviction just on motive and the undefined existence of means and opportunity,” former DPP Nicholas Cowdery previously told Australian Story.

Police admitted there has been no new evidence breakthrough since then, however Det. Supt said prosecutors accepted they had enough to go on.

“We are confident with the case. I wouldn’t have written to the DPP otherwise,” he said.

Chris and Lynette Dawson wed in 1970. Source: 7 News

Chris Dawson’s family convinced he is innocent

Mr Dawson’s family is standing by him, they revealed in a statement.

“We have no doubt whatsoever that Chris will be found not guilty as he is innocent,” the family statement said.

“There is clear and uncontested evidence that Lyn Dawson was alive long after she left Chris and their daughters.”

NSW Police and Forensic Services personnel are seen sifting through dirt at the Dawson’s home in September this year. Image: AAP

Mr Dawson applied for bail, claiming he wasn’t a flight risk and would hand his passport in and live with his brother, but the magistrate ruled to approve the extradition and sent him to face the courts in Sydney.

It is likely that will be on Thursday once flight logistics have been arranged.